ryguy904 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > mbacfa Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I have 700 on GMAT and I just got in Columbia > and > > Wharton. > > > First of all, major props on this and > congratulations!!! > > > > > Initially seeing your post I thought 680 is not > a > > concern, since you got CFA done and that speaks > > volumes of your abilities in finance. However, > > then I noticed your breakdown showing a very > low > > verbal, now, that means you have to retake it, > > almost certainly. > > > > CFA demonstrates your strong analytical > abilities > > and knowledge in the finance field, i would > think > > your Quant score doesnot matter as much. But > the > > mba schools look for well-balanced > professionals, > > and they usually like to avoid number freaks > with > > no overall skills. So CFA and a low verbal on > GMAT > > you may be delievering a negative stereotype > that > > they are screening out. > > > I totally understand what you are saying. I was > thinking about this issue as well. If anything, > given the CFA background, the addcomm would > probably prefer to see the high verbal score, and > would let me slide if I had any issues on the > quant section because of the CFA background. > > Don’t you think I would need the compelling essays > with the 680 regardless of the GMAT breakdown? I > mean, if my essays are solid, won’t I be > competitive? > > Or even with good essays (that can help > demonstrate verbal/communication skills) do you > think my chances are near zilch because of the 65% > verbal percentile? > > Many thanks. > > > Cheers, > RG After all, GMAT, CFA, Undergrad GPA, all takes up 1/3 of your application (intellectual ability), the other 2/3 (Work experience, Overall quality) is more important in your success with the B-schools. CFA is impressive by its virtue, but the difference between a top MBA program and the CFA is that MBA is a well-rounded experience, top programs look for an array of success in their candidates. You can have solid essays, but it’s more important to identify the pool you competing with. Are you well in the range of the 24-35 age window? Male or female, which industry you come from… Everyone to apply to top schools are confident to some extend, but there are a lot of human factors to the process, and be “politically” advantageous certainly adds to your chance of success. I don’t think it’s too hard to improve from 32 on verbal, I’d retake it if time allows, so that if i don’t get in, no regrets on my GMAT score. I would suggest you check out businessweek discussion forum, you will find lots of discussions on this topic. Good luck
mbacfa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I don’t think it’s too hard to improve from 32 on > verbal, I’d retake it if time allows, so that if i > don’t get in, no regrets on my GMAT score. Good call. I appreciate your response.
I see that you were admitted to Wharton and Columbia. That’s very impressive congrats
CFA_Halifax Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > mba, are you doing/have done your mba now at > columbia or are you just in the ap phase I just finished the app. phase, all my offers came mid-october, after deciding on Columbia, I have already arranged my 6000 deposit. So I will be starting at Columbia next fall. p.s. I got in Wharton last year, and deferred the offer. So after re-interview this year, they extended another offer early in October. If you are applying for Wharton this year, your offer wont come out till Dec. 20th. (in case you are curious).
CFA_Halifax Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I see that you were admitted to Wharton and > Columbia. That’s very impressive congrats Thank you very much Halifax for the kind words. Are you applying to these schools too? I don’t mind answer any questions you may have if you are crafting your apps.
I’m still a year out of undergrad. Maybe in 4-5 years many things pending. I’d like to go U of Chicago, mainly because of history I guess lol, but Wharton and Columbia would interest me, as would London Business School. We’ll see…longs ways away. My undergrad GPA was weak because I worked alot my final year and sort of stopped caring. I’m hoping good work exp down the road and finishing CFA (I’m doing L3 next June) my help me with some good schools…along with all the usuals (GMAT, essays, interviews, curing cancer etc.)
mbacfa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Wharton vs. Columbia has been the longest debate > in my life, in fact, many people had this > struggle. When looking for a strong finance > program, the tie usually occurs among Wharton, > Columbia and Chicago. Given Chicago totally off > the east coast, the tie usually persist between > Columbia and Wharton. > > For me, I personally love Columbia since high > school. I talked to at least 108 people about this > Wharton vs. Columbia thing, and the answer usually > falls between, “Of course Wharton”, or “Either one > you won’t go wrong”. Finally I made my decision > based on the “fit”, that is, I am in favor of > teamwork environment rather than cut-throat > competitiveness, also, the “attitudes” of some of > the Wharton grads scared me a little, and of > course, I would rather be in NYC. thanks for the info. i hope this would be a dilemma i get to make in the future. are u geared toward PE after CBS?
speaking of attitudes, my experience has been the opposite. I interviewed at a boutique PE and 4 of the partners were from Wharton. The founding partner was extremely nice to me during the interview, talked about his nonprofit organization, how he held multiple chairs on several boards. Then i was completely drilled by a CBS/West Point partner. Pretty sure that was who dinged me. lol
CFA_Halifax Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I’m still a year out of undergrad. Maybe in 4-5 > years many things pending. I’d like to go U of > Chicago, mainly because of history I guess lol, > but Wharton and Columbia would interest me, as > would London Business School. We’ll see…longs > ways away. > > My undergrad GPA was weak because I worked alot > my final year and sort of stopped caring. I’m > hoping good work exp down the road and finishing > CFA (I’m doing L3 next June) my help me with some > good schools…along with all the usuals (GMAT, > essays, interviews, curing cancer etc.) Chicago is a good school, I went there for undergrad, their MBA program is more theory-based, very solid curriculum with the max amount of flexibility (only 1 course required for everyone, u get to choose the rest according to your goal). If you are interested in a strong finance program, you can’t go wrong with either Chicago, Columbia or Wharton.
Out of curiosity, with the CFA, why were you so interested in a strong finance program? Isn’t broadening your horizons more of a consideration at this point? Although CBS/Wharton have great business programs, what specifically would you get academically out of CBS that you wouldn’t get out of Stanford or HBS? Is it just the professors? I know CBS has it’s brown-bag thing, but is that type of stuff going to make/break your decision? The same firms are recruiting at all of them, so practically, what actually makes one finance program better than another?
bmwhype Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > speaking of attitudes, my experience has been the > opposite. I interviewed at a boutique PE and 4 of > the partners were from Wharton. The founding > partner was extremely nice to me during the > interview, talked about his nonprofit > organization, how he held multiple chairs on > several boards. Then i was completely drilled by a > CBS/West Point partner. Pretty sure that was who > dinged me. lol With 600-800 alumni each class in Wharton or Columbia, I am not surprised that someone runs into a outliner. However, many employer reviews addressed the arrogant attitudes of Wharton grads being one of Wharton’s weaknesses. And my experiences happen to confirm that.